By Francis Wilfred
The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to strictly comply with the provisions of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), stressing that adherence is vital to strengthening the credibility and transparency of Nigeria’s budget process.
The directive was issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, during a courtesy visit by the management team of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, led by its Executive Chairman, Victor Chinmerem Muruako, in Abuja.
Akume emphasized that strict compliance with the MTEF by all MDAs is mandatory to safeguard the credibility and integrity of the national budget process and to promote a coordinated and disciplined fiscal environment capable of supporting sustainable economic growth.
He noted that the MTEF remains a critical instrument for aligning public expenditure with national development objectives, ensuring predictability, coherence and sustainability in budgeting. According to him, compliance with the framework guarantees that annual appropriations are anchored on realistic macroeconomic assumptions and revenue forecasts.
The SGF commended the Fiscal Responsibility Commission for its steadfast oversight in monitoring compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act across all tiers of government. He urged the Commission to further strengthen its monitoring, reporting and enforcement mechanisms to deepen fiscal discipline and protect public resources.
Akume also stressed that the timely preparation and publication of audited financial statements, budget implementation reports and other statutory disclosures are essential to building public trust and reinforcing investor confidence. He added that Nigeria must continue to demonstrate credible, predictable and transparent fiscal governance in an increasingly interconnected global financial environment.
Earlier, Muruako expressed gratitude to Bola Tinubu for what he described as reform-driven leadership under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Reflecting on his five-year tenure, he said the Commission had strengthened regulatory oversight of government-owned enterprises, reinforced compliance with fiscal responsibility principles and preserved its institutional independence, while also appreciating the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for its sustained support and collaboration.
